Although Tabito Karasu appeared indifferent toward Rin Itoshi, his movements betrayed no sign of carelessness.
After several feints failed to provoke a reaction, Karasu shook his head with a wry smile, thinking:
(This Rin Itoshi guy doesn't give me a single opening…)
(I've used every feint I can think of, and he hasn't even flinched.)
(Guess I'll have to switch tactics.)
With that thought, Karasu made up his mind and charged toward Rin's right side once again.
This time, his movement was exaggerated—if Rin didn't block him, he'd be passed cleanly.
The moment Rin moved to intercept from the right, Karasu swiftly switched direction, flicking the ball from his right to his left foot.
Rin's face remained calm as ever. Almost in sync, he shifted to the left to block.
But Karasu didn't continue to the left. Instead, he pulled the ball back with his left foot and shouted,
"Otoya! Take it!"
The instant the words left his mouth, Karasu made a clear passing motion.
The ball shot across the pitch in a straight line from Team V's right flank to the center of the attacking third.
Hearing Karasu's call, Eita Otoya calmly moved into position, waiting for the ball.
Ryūma Banjō stood right beside him, ready to intercept the pass as soon as it came through.
Karasu didn't make any extra movements—but the moment he landed, Otoya suddenly burst forward.
Just a second ago, both Otoya and Ryūma were facing Karasu, waiting for the pass.
But in a flash, Otoya curved his run around to Ryūma's left side—and the ball flew precisely to where Otoya arrived.
(Tch… playing with my vision again, huh?)
(Those two sneaky bastards, Karasu and Otoya, set me up from the start!)
(First Karasu's fake pass, then Otoya's convincing act—)
(He made it look like he was going to receive it right there and fight me for it!)
(And I fell for it! Dammit!)
(Wait… hold on. I got tricked, sure, but how did Rin get fooled too?)
Ryūma had been planning how to mock Rin afterward, but when he turned to chase Otoya,
he was stunned to see Rin already right there—running alongside Otoya toward the ball.
Rin even seemed slightly faster. If Otoya didn't think of something fast, Rin would definitely get it first.
Realizing his situation, Otoya clenched his teeth and lunged forward, going all out.
He gave up any chance of trapping the ball cleanly—at this speed, trying to stop it would only hand it straight to Rin.
Seeing Otoya's move, Rin raised an eyebrow and accelerated as well.
Both reached the ball almost at the same moment. Otoya used his back to block Rin from getting a clean touch.
But Rin had anticipated it—he sidestepped and extended his right foot toward the ball.
Otoya knew he couldn't hold Rin off for long.
That earlier back press wasn't to block him—it was a setup for his next move!
With a sharp motion, Otoya slid forward, but instead of a normal tackle, he lifted the ball upward, sending it flying behind him.
The next instant, he twisted his body and headed the ball just as it passed over him, sending it arcing toward Team V's right midfield.
Only someone with Otoya's incredible flexibility could pull off a sequence like that—anyone else would've risked dislocating something.
As Ryūma reached his own midfield, he watched Otoya's play unfold and couldn't help but think,
(Damn… I've got nothing to say. That guy's basically spineless—literally! ╭(°A°`)╮)
While Ryūma was still mentally ranting, Karasu received the ball on Team V's right side and deliberately slowed down.
The triplet brothers were closing in, but that wasn't why he eased his pace.
He was waiting for Yo Hiori. Out of the corner of his eye, Karasu could see Hiori tracking him carefully.
Karasu understood what Hiori was planning—he was waiting for the right moment to pounce after Karasu broke through the triplets.
So Karasu pretended not to notice, baiting him in closer.
When the timing felt right, a glint flickered in his eyes. His dribbling shifted from slow control to rapid, relentless stepovers!
"Stay calm, guys! Don't get baited so easily!"
"Got it, bro! No problem!"
"Relax, bro, you can trust me! (O∆O)"
Karasu chuckled. "Heh. If staying cautious was enough to stop me, that'd mean I've failed."
Then he dashed through the opening in the triplets' triangle formation.
Two of them tried to block him, but Karasu used his arms to fend them off, keeping them from closing in.
Instead of pressing forward, he suddenly pulled the ball back with his left foot, spinning his body with it.
He shifted to the right, and before the defenders could react, he raised his leg to pass.
Just then, Yo Hiori appeared like a leopard pouncing on its prey, cutting right into his passing lane.
"Yo Hiori—been waiting for you! Baka~"
Under Hiori's startled gaze, Karasu planted his right foot on the ball, stopping it dead.
Almost instantly, he flicked it to the right, stepped forward with his left foot, and struck it cleanly toward Team V's defensive center.
Three figures converged on that spot at once:
Ryūma Banjō, who had just reached midfield and turned back toward his own defense;
Eita Otoya and Rin Itoshi, one ahead and one behind, charging from midfield straight toward the dropping ball.
All three reached the area nearly simultaneously. Ryūma called out,
"Work with me, Rin! We can't let them take it this time!"
"Tch. Don't order me around."
Rin slightly slowed down, then, as Otoya passed him, he suddenly accelerated again, cutting to Ryūma's side.
"You're no good in the air. Block him. I'll get the ball."
"Hah? What the hell are you saying, idiot?"
Watching Rin prepare to jump, Ryūma couldn't help but smirk, a wicked thought crossing his mind.
(What if I just ram this arrogant bastard mid-jump and send him flying? (ꐦ°᷄д°᷅))